Our November topic has been Mindset Reset, and Mother Nature threw an unexpected reset my way last week. I knew I needed a holiday refresh, but seven days without power wasn’t quite the kickstart I had in mind!
Several themes emerged from friends and colleagues. Yes, the bomb cyclone was a big inconvenience. But except for my perpetually cranky neighbor, I was struck by everyone’s cooperative, collaborative, and grateful spirit. Fences were damaged, and trees had come down, but even Type A git-r-done people had the flexibility and sense to adjust deadlines and deliverables. The only news that really mattered was that family and pets were ok. Precious cargo won the day!
The positive outlook in the air reminded me of a colleague. Petr was a stranger when we were paired on a mentoring project. He’s a quiet, low-key guy, and there was nothing to see until his co-worker JJ showed up.
JJ is a call-it-like-you-see-it Texan, so I wasn’t surprised when truth bombs about his career journey started flying. But what I didn’t see coming was the backstory Petr hadn’t shared.
It seems that Petr had a questionable draw when he first joined the team. However, he stayed frosty and took things in stride. When the worksplit carouseled a year later, Petr wound up at the top, and several options were even presented to him.
Was it all just a lucky break? No. Did his technical skills writing contracts outpace others? No. And did all those colorful personalities magically go elsewhere? Nope. Petr shook out from the pack with people skills.
For instance, senior people were impressed by his poise under pressure and willingness to learn. They told stories about his grit and sense of humor, even when he juggled time-sensitive deliverables. In the end, Petr’s integrity made him stand out, even though it would have been easy to get negative or cut corners.
Let’s face it: When situations and projects aren’t working, it’s tempting to dump everything at the curb like a bad frig after a power outage. However, Petr’s story demonstrates that certain competencies should never be reset. Moreover, they can be game changers showing others what you’re made of.
So, resolve to keep your people skill superpowers, such as communicating well, making discerning choices, and staying professional even the odds are against you. Pack up your outstanding habits before you head off to new horizons (and that goes double if you’re ready to change jobs or industries).
Here’s the overview of three ways we’ve discussed to refresh your outlook. By unwinding old habits and worn-out mindsets, you’ll shift issues that might have held you back into empowering set-ups for the future.
As we head into the home stretch of the year, and you’re deciding what to keep or toss, one thing is clear: Don’t pile new stuff on top of what has expired. Now is the time to act like the creative, wise CEO of your life—a Soul Boss—and set new standards for your productivity and your wellness. Before you leap forward, start by taking out the trash.